myBurbank Talks
myBurbank Talks
Ask the Mayor with Nick Schultz - May 2024
Unlock the secrets to fostering a more connected and engaged community in our latest episode of Ask the Mayor on myBurbank Talks. Hear from Burbank Mayor Nick Schultz as he shares his insights on creating accessible avenues for public communication beyond the intimidating formalities of city council meetings. We'll explore the power of town halls and call-in features to foster inclusive dialogue, including a sneak peek at an upcoming event organized by the Chamber of Commerce specifically for Burbank's restaurant owners.
Ever wondered how traffic and bike lane changes impact your daily commute? Join us as we address these hot topics, which are part of the city's pilot programs aimed at enhancing safety and accessibility. Hear the residents' reactions, the importance of data-driven decisions, and how Burbank is leading the way in the broader trend toward safer urban planning. Your feedback matters and the city is committed to considering all voices in this evolving landscape.
We also delve into the debate surrounding gun store regulations with a look at the recently introduced ordinance. Understand the community's concerns, the stipulations of new regulations, and the collaborative efforts of the city council. Plus, get updates on significant city issues, including fiscal strategies, major upcoming events, and Vice Mayor Perez's innovative community funding proposal. As we transition to warmer weather, we reflect on what makes Burbank uniquely charming and safe, and express our gratitude to Mayor Schultz and our listeners for their continued support.
From deep in the Burbank Media District. It's time for another edition of my Burbank Talks, presented by the staff of my Burbank. Now let's see what's on today's agenda as we join our program.
Speaker 2:Hello Burbank. Greg Sherwood here with you once again, along with Ross Benson.
Speaker 3:As they say, tally-ho. We got a show to do, let's go hit the road.
Speaker 2:And you know what we're doing tonight, Ross, Of all the shows. We do a lot of shows, a lot of different types of shows, but this is the kind of show I really enjoy that we do on a monthly basis, because I really think it's not current events and news, but I think it's a way for the people to talk to our mayor without you know. Well, say, an oral comment or communications, and I can't answer you because the Brown Act is on the agenda. Well, this is a time when they can actually answer questions and I think it's a great time. So let me introduce to everybody.
Speaker 3:You just love controversy sometimes, and sometimes these people send stuff and if you listen to the show here you can tell where Craig wants to get controversial.
Speaker 2:I just like to ask tough questions sometimes, but I'll tell you what. Let me introduce our mayor first. We have Mayor Nick Schultz with us tonight and he's up in Sacramento so he's on Zoom tonight. So we're very happy that he was able to take some time to be with us.
Speaker 3:Come on, tell the truth. He's up fishing in Sacramento. The trout are running. I don't know why he's wearing a tie if he's fishing.
Speaker 4:Well, you know, ross, I got to scare the fish out of the water somehow. No, hey guys, it's so great to be back and I just want to say for all your listeners I mean, you guys always do a great job. You don't give me any easy passes, you definitely ask the tough questions and I just really appreciate you both giving me the platform to talk to the community and a bit more of a dialogue, a bit more of a back and forth, because, like you said, craig, I mean the council meetings are so so, so difficult to really have a conversation in that setting. So appreciate you guys well, it's funny.
Speaker 3:Didn't you guys just talk just a week or so ago about having a what do they call them? A town hall, meeting town hall? And the last time, I think, nick, there was a town hall in burbank. You were probably in diapers, probably you know, not not. You know. Thanks for the memories, Bob Hope, but I don't remember one. They did it at a couple of schools up on the hill. We haven't had a meeting like that.
Speaker 2:I would hope, if we do do a town hall, that people would go and be respectful and let people finish their sentences and not accuse. You know, because our society is a little bit, you know, and hopefully everybody acts in a great way. I think a town hall is a great thing but you know, right now it's hard to judge the pulse of the people sometimes.
Speaker 3:Yeah, go ahead, Mare.
Speaker 4:No, no, I'll just say look, I know I've gone on record about this, I won't repeat myself. Yeah, go know at the city attorney's advice and compliance with the Brown Act. But if we keep asking people to come to City Hall to communicate with us, we're losing a critical segment of the community that either can't or doesn't want to come to that space to share their opinion. We got to get out there and talk to people on ground in which they're comfortable and which they are find accessible.
Speaker 3:Talk to people on ground in which they're comfortable and which they are find accessible. How many times have you heard somebody get up to that podium and say this is the first time they were. They're scared to death. They're shaking in their boots. You know, even me, I've gotten up there a couple of times and I'll tell you got cameras on you, everybody's looking at you. You got the people behind you that are whispering this and that, and it's a scary. But going to a town hall, you know, without you can bring coffee in and donuts and, and I do appreciate- you kept the phone part of the oral communication.
Speaker 2:It's really too bad. The other night we had somebody decided to use a voice changer and and I think it's really the first time that's really been a really happened, but I think overall it's it's been a good thing to have.
Speaker 4:And you know what the good outweighs the bad. You know the Tom Raiders of the world are going to continue to waste the public's time and abuse the system, but the reality is the majority of people that use the call-in feature they can't make it. They want their voice to be heard, and that I mean. Look if even one person takes advantage of that for that purpose, legitimately. It's worth it for me because we want to hear from everybody.
Speaker 3:I agree. Well, like you said, you know, you think about it, the mother that is home with three kids, that you know, instead of hiring a babysitter to go and complain about something on their block or whatever it is, you're reaching out to them and that's why I'm thinking you know. Also, the town hall concept is there are a lot less restrictions and you, that's a problem. I, every time I go on social media or anything, it's all negative. Well, at town hall meetings it could be positive. Let me I?
Speaker 2:I don't know the answer to this. If you do a town hall, are you limited to only having two council people there? Then, if you're talking city business stuff, you couldn't have all five council members at a town hall, could you?
Speaker 4:I thought it was on decisions, only on voting decisions, yeah so to follow up on your initial response to Craig, you can do it both ways. So, for example, the chamber is having a town hall I think it's June 8th for restaurants in Burbank about collectively organizing as part of a digital restaurant association. Actually worked with the organizers. I'm familiar with the concept. That's not a Brown Act thing. I'll be there facilitating a conversation at the invitation of the chamber. You can totally do that.
Speaker 2:Right, but you'll be by yourself Every time there's all five of you together.
Speaker 4:You could do it if you properly agendized it. You know, as long as the public has noticed that the town hall is going to happen and they have the opportunity to address all five of us and obviously in a town hall we wouldn't be making decisions, it would be more of just collecting input and engaging community dialogue. You could do it with all five. That's my understanding, and I would love to do that. On a pressing issue Like we've been talking about rent stabilization, tenant protections. Let's get outside of City Hall and he really listened to the community and have a conversation and let's do it in the Brown Act way that Mr McDougal recommends. We do it right, agendize it, give everyone ample notice. I'm all for it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, now that I think about it years ago my memory will go back that far when they did a town hall meeting before I covered it and they did have all five council members. They did have the city attorney there. They had the regular staff because if somebody asked something for traffic, it's nice if you have a traffic lieutenant handy and that's the thing I. I know it requires a lot of planning, but I think in today's world of non-communication it's a way to get the communications out.
Speaker 2:It's time to think about down the line here. So we're throwing that out here to you and maybe you can take the ball and run with it down the line.
Speaker 4:I'm all for it.
Speaker 2:Let's do it, you still have about six, seven months left, so we're going to Well. So we get some questions here. Our first question is from Patricia, and I ask people to send in questions to me and she kind of sent in a dissertation to a point. It's a very, very complicated thing so I'm going to just kind of paraphrase it.
Speaker 2:Patricia, I apologize, but she's upset about what the transportation department, she says, is doing, about what the transportation department, she says, is doing, number one on Olive, with the single lane and so close to parked cars and how that is. And now she's also upset about making San Fernando between Olive and Magnolia one way, and she says it's stupid and ugly, with all those yellow boards and asphalt painted bright yellow. And she thinks more plans to do this are all around the city and she thinks the reason is because you know, she says federal, state and city governments are supposed to be making traveling by car as inconvenient as possible. Hope people will just stay home, stay up, give up and not and just stay home, I'm sorry. And they're using climate change as a reason. So I think that you know we've kind of talked about this in the past, but I don't think it's a city conspiracy to keep people off their cars. But I understand her points where she's, you know, upset about the traffic patterns up in that part of the city. Well, it's funny.
Speaker 3:I'm going to interject real quick. I don't know if you heard my rant last night, but driving yesterday cars are racing around, I mean they are flying everywhere around the city and people don't get it. You guys are trying to slow traffic down to prevent accidents, prevent fatalities, but people don't get it. You know, I lived on Verdugo and Buena Vista, a block away, and I could see Verdugo. When they put in the bike lanes and people said nobody ever uses them, I could look out my kitchen window and count the bikes that go by in the morning and in the afternoon. So it really kind of got me when people said nobody ever uses them. Well, they do. You know people, you guys don't do these, these changes just overnight. There's cameras out there counting how many bikes go down there, how many you know cars go down there, how many you know cars go down there. Everything you're not going to change verdugo. You're not going to, you know and all of it's just a temporary thing, I totally agree, guys, and I'll.
Speaker 4:I know we've we've addressed this question a couple times now and I don't mind answering it again, but I'll try to be brief. Patricia, thank you for participating. Great question. No, I can assure you that the city is not trying to keep people at home or off the roads driving. What we are trying to do is two things.
Speaker 4:We understand that in the city of Burbank many people drive, but many people also bike, walk and have other alternative modes of transportation and especially in a critical area like San Fernando with a vibrant business district, we just want to make the roads accessible to everybody. We feel very confident that our pilot program, which we will be revisiting in quarter one of next year so nothing's permanent, but we feel comfortable that the data is going to show that it's actually been a net positive for the downtown area. We did not have a reduction in parking spaces. We've, from my understanding, seen an early indications of improvement in terms of pedestrian and overall traffic safety in that area. You know it does slow down the traffic, as you said, ross, you're 100% right, but look if there are adjustments and tweaks that we can make, or, heck, even, if you want to advocate for returning it to two-way traffic like it was before. Nothing's been determined, nothing's final, until quarter one of next year when we talk about it again.
Speaker 4:In terms of Olive yes, again very similar. This was a project contemplated by our Complete Our Streets plan. This is the first iteration of the project. We are very much soliciting community feedback and looking at how we can make that a better, longer-lasting project in the community. So, just to sum up, we're always looking at innovative approaches we can take to make our roads safer, to make our roads more accessible to everybody, but nothing is set in stone. We're always open to the feedback, we're always willing to look at how we can adjust it to make it better, and it's feedback like yours that helps us. So keep engaging, keep sharing this feedback with us and I think if you give us time and patience, you'll find that we'll get it right.
Speaker 3:Oh, it's funny. There's something that I'm reminded of all the time If you talk to a traffic officer or a traffic lieutenant or anybody in the police department, it's a three E's engineering, enforcement and education and you cannot do those three with leaving one of the peg legs out. And right now you're doing you know they could be citing, and then everybody's going to complain about getting tickets left and right. Why Well, instead you're doing it a different way? You know, slow down folks.
Speaker 2:Well, I think also, if you look at the fact, people just don't like change and I think that's you know. I know when verdugo went from two lanes to one lane, everybody was all oh, this is going to just make everything. And I've used radugo numerous times and, yes, occasionally there is a little traffic at five in the afternoon. But you know what? I've never noticed myself not making it where I need to go in a reasonable amount of time.
Speaker 3:So well, it's funny. Also, you know you think of how many times do people say leave five minutes earlier and it won't matter if you get. You know there you go People. You know we all wait till the last second to do what we need to do or go somewhere, and that you don't expect the traffic accident or the backup.
Speaker 2:So, mayor, I think the Olive on Olive is going to be revisited later this year and San Fernando next year.
Speaker 4:correct, absolutely, both of these are first phase or pilot year correct Absolutely. Both of these are first phase or pilot projects, if you will. The goal is to take community feedback and to make revisions and improvements to make these projects better. So what you see right now is, I would humbly say, not the end product, not the final product.
Speaker 2:And maybe that's why a lot of these boards and everything else are the way they are, because they're not permanent right now and they want to be able to move them if they need to, to make a permanent solution down the line.
Speaker 3:Well, I always love that line that I think I heard David Kriske say paint is cheap.
Speaker 4:Yes, it is. You know, doesn't he?
Speaker 3:say he buys it by the gallon or by quite a bit, but again, you can sandblast off all of them, change it and so forth. Aren't I correct to say that the city of Los Angeles, the last election, voted to put in some new Green Street regulations and bike lanes, some BRT lanes too, you know? And LA is being forced to do it. Burbank's no different. You know we're doing exactly what other cities are doing. You know. Drive around, get out of burbank and see. You know you'd be surprised what other cities are doing so okay, anything else on that, mayor you want to.
Speaker 4:We should move on here I, I think you guys covered it really well, but, patricia, thank you for engaging and keep the questions coming everybody.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, we appreciate it. Let's get into the big one for May, and that was gun stores. It's been a two-year project. I first wrote about it about two months before the council took it up and one of my things about it was we just had so many gun stores. There's 14 gun stores in a five and a half square mile section of the city and I had been saying I don't mind having five gun stores.
Speaker 2:This is not Second Amendment. Everybody's trying to. This is not Second Amendment, but everybody's been upset about that, which makes no sense. But why do we need more than, let's say, five gun stores? So that was kind of my feeling on it. Now the new ordinance, which I think you guys have done a great job and done a lot of due diligence, but does not address the amount of gun stores, but just the locations. Now we don't allow rental scooters in the city, we don't allow Airbnb, we don't allow cannabis stores, but yet we're not limiting gun stores at all. So let me start off with that. And also, are you happy with the ordinance as it stands right now?
Speaker 4:Sure, yeah, thank you guys. So I would say to answer the last part of your question, craig, yes, you know, look, no ordinance is perfect, but I think this is a big step in the right direction. The ordinance does not cap. You know. We will have no more than 10, 15, whatever the number is of gun stores. You know, I was mixed on the lack of that requirement, you know, including it in the ordinance, but I think the reason why is because we all understand that Burbank today is probably going to look very different from Burbank of 30 years from now, and that's not just applying to gun stores, any kind of store. The number of grocery stores that we have right now is good for 100,000 people, and the needs might be different if we grow to 125,000. I think now that's not just look. I think we have more than enough gun stores period to meet the needs of this community several times over.
Speaker 4:I think our focus, though, was it's exactly what you were talking about, craig. This is not an attack on Second Amendment rights or the opportunities for responsible gun owners to purchase and access a firearm or ammunition. We were really looking at how we design our community, and, forgive me, but as a father, I just don't necessarily want a gun store or a liquor store or any kind of store of that nature opening next to a preschool. I mean, we just don't want that right. We have the land use planning power in the city to say if you're going to have this kind of a retail use, this is where we're going to allow you to do it. That's just common sense planning.
Speaker 4:In the council's discussion you saw some disagreement among the council, the four members that were there. Obviously Council Member Mullins wasn't able to join us. Two of us felt comfortable with a 500-foot buffer radius. In other words, a gun store couldn't open or operate within 500 feet of residential or another gun store that was operating store that was operating. I was one of the voices that pushed and felt that $1,000 was more appropriate and still left us ample space in our city to accommodate the future growth of new gun stores if that's something that we're really needed. So that's one critical component.
Speaker 2:And not to go back to that a little bit here and the $500,000 has not been decided yet. I mean, that's fine, but is the 500,000, is it going to be as the crow flies or is it going to be as the Google street maps go? So I think there's a big difference in there, because it's a lot difference, you know, in direction, if it's just by as the crow flies, in a straight direction.
Speaker 4:My understanding is, when we say you know you can't operate a gun store within X number of feet of another gun store, we're talking as the crow flies. That's my understanding of it. I will get clarity for that when it comes back, just so the public has a satisfactory answer. But as I've read the ordinance, as I've studied it, we're talking as the crow flies.
Speaker 2:Right, okay, as I've read the ordinance as I've studied it, we're talking as the grove lies, right, okay. But now we have what? 14 gun stores? Yeah, there's 14. Not really stores. Some are registered dealers, right, ffls.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but okay, we have a couple. This will not change for the current that we have, but as I understand, the ordinance is very restrictive. Or is somebody else coming into town? I mean, you got big hoops to jump. You know a lot to do if you're going to want to open a store here, and I would think that a gun owner they got to weigh that you know. Weigh, you know is. Do I want to spend this money and have all the the headaches or and all, or go to a community that I can open and do whatever I want?
Speaker 4:it just shows burbank is, you know, being protective well, and the other thing I would mention, guys, is a lot of time and attention has been spent on the buffer radius 500 or 1,000 feet, I think the real. If there's like one meaty part of this ordinance that is worth discussion, it's the fact that prior to adoption of the ordinance, even right now, as we sit here and we're recording this tonight, you can come in and if a parcel is zoned for retail, you can open a gun store anywhere. There is no discretionary process. The planning commission or the council can't say we don't want to put it there. It doesn't make sense Like it's by right.
Speaker 4:This ordinance fundamentally shifts that approach and says if you want to open a gun store in Burbank, there has to be a conditional use permit. There has to be a discretionary process. That means the public has notice of the request to open the gun store. There is a hearing where the public can come and share their opinions. We like it, we don't like it in this area and somebody in the ordinance outlines council is the final decision maker. Yes, we understand you want to open a gun store, craig, but we just don't think this is the right place to do it. That is the same way we treat liquor stores, and I don't see why we should treat gun stores any less strictly. It's not that we're trying to penalize those who want to purchase those products. We're just saying that there are some places in the community where it makes sense and it's safe to do that. There are others where allowing stores like to operate like that are irresponsible at best and, quite frankly, could have negative impacts on Burbank's economic development profile or image.
Speaker 4:There are very valid concerns for why we put this ordinance in place.
Speaker 2:Well, I agree and I like I say I want to see a limit, but I'm happy with you know, I think it got worked out. I'm happy with what's got worked out. You know nobody gets everything they want, including yourself, but I think we worked out a pretty good system there. You know, when you look at the map of potential places not a lot of places really, you know. So I'm not too worried about 15 gun stores coming in.
Speaker 3:Well, it's funny, I'm just you what you just said, mayor, I think. I think we are the media capital of the world. Why has disney, why is warner brothers, why has nickelodeon, why has cartoon network, why has I can keep going down the list chose to come and be here in burbank and they take things like that into consideration when they are going to open their business. And you know taxes wise, yes, I know gun owners pay a lot of taxes every time you sell a gun and there's quite a few requirements. But these big companies keep moving to burbank and you know you kind of wonder why it's. Think about it.
Speaker 4:It's a community that's safe, very outspoken great activists in our community years ago about the number of gun stores. Look how far we've come. In addition to this ordinance, we also had a separate ordinance a number of months back that put in place requirements for gun stores operating to ensure that they had proper physical security safeguards, bollards so that someone couldn't drive into the store video surveillance requirements. None of these were on the books of the Burbank Municipal Code. It's not perfect, but I would certainly say that because of effort of you and many other community activists I know Linda Besson's been very outspoken about this too we've made significant progress. The work's by no means done, but I do think that Burbank is fundamentally safer and at least has better safeguards to ensure good operators in our community than we did a couple of years ago. So I'm very proud and I'm proud of how the community came together to do that. The other thing I just want to briefly say, and then I'll turn the floor back to you guys you know our gun store operators in Burbank are our front line of defense. You've heard me say that before.
Speaker 4:They are the ones who are selling the product. They are the ones who need to understand the law, who need to be looking for those signs, those warning signs of someone who maybe shouldn't be there trying to get their hands on a gun. Some of them had very legitimate, valid concerns and they came forward. They talked to city staff and their concerns were addressed and their feedback was incorporated in these, this final draft of the ordinance. I think in in my entire tenure on the city council there's a few examples, but this is one of them of city council and the staff really working with the community to get a good end product and and and I'll wrap on this, craig, to your point not something that everyone loves, but I think everybody can walk away with and say it's reasonable and there's some good pieces of it. That's really good legislation. It's not perfect, but I think it shows that the process can and does work from time to time.
Speaker 2:I agree 100%. I think it's a win-win for everybody. I say nobody ever gets everything they wanted, but I think we all got something. And I will say this the gun shop owners, they've really never been a problem, that's not. You know, this is not about them being a problem or anything else. They've always. You know, it has nothing to do with them personally and I'm glad they're in business and I hope they do well. So but, like I say, I think we all won a little on this one, I. But like I say, I think we all won a little on this one.
Speaker 4:We left it there and we found it. I agree. Very well said, greg, and to the extent that there's more work that needs to be done, we will continue that work as a community. But for now I think we're definitely poised, as you said, to leave it better than we found it absolutely well, let's move on here.
Speaker 2:Here's something which we haven't had. This is somehow got moved off the front burner to the back burner, but I'd like to hear what's going on, and that's about having council district elections. I think we kind of put that on the back for a while and we haven't heard anything about it. Now, of course, the elections are coming in November and now it's too late to act and do anything. But what's the status in that whole thing?
Speaker 4:That's a great question, Craig, and look as it stands right now, the lawsuit is continuing. So what had happened was when the council decided not to enact the districts and we instead invited Mr Gutierrez, the plaintiff, to come before the council to participate in the process, rather than choosing to engage, he initiated a lawsuit against the city. My understanding is that his first complaint was dismissed. We felt that it was, you know, certainly didn't lay out a very good case. It was very poorly pled. He corrected some of those deficiencies, refiled the complaint and it's still in the courts right now. So it's going to be some time, I believe, before we know the outcome.
Speaker 4:But, based upon the best information I have available and my belief, my understanding is that in 2024, council elections in Burbank are going to continue to be run at large, meaning that we will have two seats open. One will be presumable. One seat currently belongs to Council Member Anthony, who may or may not choose to announce a bid for re-election. But one seat mine is going to be an open seat because, by operation of law, I can't run for another office and for council, and so Burbank voters, unless something drastically changes, are going to have the option of voting for two candidates to represent them on the city council taking office in December of this year.
Speaker 2:I think that's pretty well said. I'm really hoping I think everybody's pretty well said. I'm really hoping, you know, I think everybody should be able to vote for council candidates. I don't think it should be. You're doing a district and all of a sudden, now three-fifths of the city doesn't get to vote for a candidate, which to me, you know, is not how it should be. I think we have a right to vote for all five seats.
Speaker 4:And the other thing I would just add is look whether it's Mr Gutierrez as legal counsel, mr Spencer as benefactor or anyone else involved in the litigation. If you want to come and engage with the council and have a conversation, our door remains open. We're there nearly every Tuesday night at 6 pm, but hopefully this is a conversation we can have in daylight. As a community, I always think that transparency is a good thing. You know, taking the city to court just because you can, I don't know that that necessarily serves the best interests of the Burbank community. So unless and until there's a change in their posture and position, we'll leave it to the courts and we feel very confident about our case and the defensibility of the city.
Speaker 2:Have we heard anything else about Santa Monica yet? I know they appealed and it was kind of not 100% overturned. Is that still going on in the courts, the Santa Monica situation?
Speaker 4:To the best of my knowledge, yeah, mr McDougal could probably provide more information on that, but I think the decision that came down was a little incomplete. It was remanded, as I understand it, for further fact-finding, so that's going to continue to make its way through the courts and is going to continue to potentially have an impact on Burbank and other communities around the state.
Speaker 3:Well, you know what I think? My Burbank. We will offer Mr Gutierrez at least a gift card for several meals to Hill Street Cafe. If he wants to show up, we will supply dinner for him.
Speaker 2:I wrote an editorial saying please contact us. We want to hear from him, but we can't find him. In fact, I can't even find him on the voter rolls. So I mean, we're trying, you know, and I'd love to have him in here and do a podcast with him and let him have his views. You know, I'd love to discuss it with him. Anyhow, moving on, moving on now, something I I I think most people will say, you know, is it's time for a little sleepy time, but I know you really enjoy this is the budget process, and we just, uh, went through the budget process and, um, uh, so where do we stay? Our fiscal year starts on july 1st, so where do we stand now in the budget for next year and are you happy with how it went and are there any highlights? Or, of course, we have a balanced budget, I believe, correct.
Speaker 4:We do.
Speaker 2:And a surplus maybe right.
Speaker 4:Yes. So for another year, the city of Burbank is forecasting to have a balanced budget, meaning that we're spending less than we bring in. So that is exceptional news for our financial health. You know, I would say in the long run, you know, in years four and five, you know there is a projected small but still a projected structural recurring deficit. I think that can be easily cured by just, you know, good, intelligent investment in our unfunded pension liability, good cost savings measures. So it's nothing that I'm worried about. But I think it'll be incumbent on the next council and continuing councils to carry on our tradition of just being very vigilant in how we manage public finance. But for this year and next year, I'm proud to say that the city's budget should be balanced, which is fantastic news. That's probably the biggest highlight.
Speaker 4:But the other thing I would say is that we do have some really great things that we're contemplating funding as part of this project, and I'll highlight just one, because I know you guys have follow-up questions. You know, for about a year and a half now we have been talking about the state of landlord and tenant relations in the city of Burbank and obviously we want to balance the interests and the needs of our property owners, our housing providers and our tenants. On the other side of the equation proposal that I think is really exciting to create a new housing enforcement section of his office that can not only help facilitate resources for everyone involved in the Burbank community on all sides of this equation, but can also potentially connect those who are in need of legal representation and resources with nonprofits that exist and are able to do that. It's a really exciting program. It does come at a little bit of a price tag, but fortunately we can afford it, and we have some other expenditures for community events that I'm really excited to talk about.
Speaker 4:So I'll wrap with this. This is a really great budget. We're able to do a lot with the finances that we have. I think the one challenge that will be a lie ahead is that we just need to continue to be fiscally responsible and ensure that the city continues to expect and to receive these balanced budgets, Because I know everyone sleeps more comfortable at night knowing that the bills are paid. We're in excellent financial health and we do have over 25% of strategic reserves, so we're in excellent financial condition of strategic reserve, so we're in excellent financial condition.
Speaker 3:Well, you know, I will say Madam Beckler does a great job in our finance department and I love listening to her reports and so forth. I will say that we are a healthy city and because of that we have these funds that we can do things with. We're not going to backpedal now you look at the things that are planning and coming moving forward. We'll just put more money in the bank. You know people come, move to burbank for class one fire department, you know that three minute police department, eta, the trash service or everything, and you guys are doing it right.
Speaker 3:I have a question for you, and I noticed, uh, that they've changed how people are coming to council um asking for money. And I don't mean the civilians and the pub you know the populace but organizations that are, you know, and in the past they used to do cbdg funds if you were a non-profit or so forth. But there's some of these organizations now, um that are asking for money that you guys are working with. I'm gonna for one um. The pride event that um has been last year was very uh popular and I guess they asked for some money and you guys gave it to them. And uh, here's a couple others that I'm just curious is it because we have those funds or you know what? How's it changing? I think you guys talked about it a bit.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, that's a really great question, ross. So this really started out last year when the Burbank Historical Society was celebrating their anniversary and they came before council and they asked for some financial help in putting on their celebration, and the council decided to do a matching funds grant where if they raised $5,000, we would match it with $5,000 kicked in from a city, and I believe it was capped at $15,000. That was last year. So you're absolutely right, ross. Certain community groups Leadership, burbank, burbank Pride, just to name a few, there are others. They have approached city staff or the council members, or a combination of both, and have said we could really use financial assistance with this event or this program, and so this year, because we have a surplus of a couple million dollars, you know, we're in a position where we can give a little bit of this money back and reinvest it into our community for projects and events that we think are worthwhile. But what I want to close with, though, ross, is you do make a good point. So we have so this is all coming out of the general fund, right Unrestricted money that the council can spend.
Speaker 4:We have historically had a process for community development block grant funding that we get from the federal government, and that is actually a really great model. We have a whole committee that reviews applications from around the city. They make recommendations to council about what should be funded and what shouldn't. Staff it's all part of public meetings and there's reporting requirements that they actually have to use the money as they said they would. One of the things I want to highlight was actually the forward thinking approach of Vice Mayor Perez, who asked, as part of her budget request, that we set up a similar system in future years. So you know, what we don't want is people coming and asking for a direct allocation from the general fund because it's easier than going through the community development block grant funding process.
Speaker 4:What the vice mayor has correctly diagnosed and is pointing out is, in years where we do have a surplus, we can use general fund money to help reinvest in the community, but it should still be part of a formal process, just like community development block grant funding, and we should be having certain measures to ensure that the money is actually being spent for the purpose that we allocated it for. So she's proposed a every single year recurring $100,000 pot of money. If you will, that is a. We don't have to spend it, but it can be allocated to community need and as part of that there's a formal process where you would apply for it and there's a recommendation made. I think it's a million dollar idea. It's a hundred thousand dollar idea, I guess, but it's a really great idea. I applaud the vice mayor for bringing it up. I think the council seems on board with it. We'll find out in a week, but I think that's a really smart approach to take.
Speaker 4:I tell you, you could tell she came from Burroughs.
Speaker 3:I'm sorry. Yes, she did. No, I agree, and it's a good way to you know, not all cities as you know, how many cities do you hear that are hurting and they can't do this and can't do that? We're looking pretty good here in Burbank. I mean, I don't see Warner Brothers packing up and moving next week.
Speaker 2:How's our pensions doing down the line? Are we pretty well have that under control? That really killed a lot of cities. How are we on that?
Speaker 4:Yeah, and I'll tell you just on that note, greg, take a look at the cities around us. Look at Glendale's budget. I mean, look, not to single them out. Look at the cities around us, look at Glendale's budget. I mean I mean, like, look, not to single them out. Look at Pasadena, glendale, la.
Speaker 4:We are very fortunate and we've been very well managed. Part of how we've been well managed to your question, craig, is that you know we do not have a fully funded pension liability. No city does, to my knowledge. But in the every year I think every year that I've been on council, if I'm not mistaken as part of our budget we have always this pot of surplus general fund money and we're going to help pay down our unfunded pension liabilities so that we can make good on our promise to all of our employees who will retire tomorrow and put the city in better fiscal health.
Speaker 4:Because when you pay down your liability, it actually it's like paying down the balance on your credit card, if you will. It saves you in the interest costs that you're going to have year after year. So while it's not fully funded and I don't want to misspeak, I mean it's mostly funded, I mean it's substantially funded. I would refer anyone listening to Ms Becker and financial services for the exact percentage. But we're sitting pretty good, we're sitting better than most cities and we're going to need to continue to make that forward investment so that we, a can fully meet our pension liability but B and this is also important to eliminating that deficit we can eliminate those interest costs, if you will. That also can drive up our annual operating expenses and if we just make that investment we can eliminate that deficit pretty quickly.
Speaker 2:Makes a lot of sense, I think financially in the next couple of years we should do very well with. We have World Cup coming to Burbank not to Burbank, but the World Cup coming to LA and that's going to create a lot, of, a lot of people into Burbank Airport. It's going to create a lot of people heads, heads in the pillows, they say, and you know, for the bed tax, and then of course, the Olympics after that and I think economically, both those things will really help our city in the next couple of years.
Speaker 4:Most definitely I agree.
Speaker 4:And the last thing I would add, guys, is look, we've been very blessed and the voters have trusted local decision makers with the sales tax increase right.
Speaker 4:The message I really want the community to hear, at least from my perspective, is that I think we're making good use of the funding and I don't see a need to increase taxes. I mean, I think we can and we have operated within our means. We just need to continue to do that because right now, families across Burbank are feeling the pinch the cost of everything's up from housing to groceries to gas. So while I'm appreciative and I'm thankful that the Burbank voters approved the sales tax increase a number of years ago and because of it we've been able to do a lot of great work, that's not a well that we can or should go back to anytime soon, right? So my message for future councils, if they listen back to this in a year, is we need to continue to operate within our means. It's kind of like our kids, right? We give them an allowance If they spend it all well, you know, out of of luck. So we've done good so far.
Speaker 3:We just got to keep you know, keep on track there well, I will say that one of the things I really I know both craig and I, with quite a bit of, uh, fire department improvements, meaning, uh, paramedic training and so forth. And another paramedic van we're growing in people moving to burbank occupying hotels and so forth, and another paramedic van we're growing in people moving to Burbank occupying hotels and so forth. The money that you guys put away for some newer equipment this year has been way overdue and I think people need to realize. That's why we have a class one fire department and paramedic service and so forth.
Speaker 4:Well, and the other Ross on that question, you know. The other thing I'll mention is you know there have been a few commenters in recent months who have pointed out that the city's commitment to payroll you know, for police, fire, city employees has gone up. That's not untrue, although, I'll point out, we've been able to afford it. But here's the reality. When I took office in 2020, at the end of 2020, we and you both know this, you were both covering it we couldn't fill the positions fast enough in Burbank Fire, in Burbank Police, in our city departments and, at the end of the day, as much as people might like the mayor or not, the people that are interacting and really making an impact on your life are the police officers, the firefighters, the paramedics, the folks at the front counter of the library. We invested in our workforce and now we're seeing we're so much closer to fully staffed departments.
Speaker 4:Morale is up. City services continue to improve. You know, at the end of the day, we made a very smart investment four years ago. We're continuing to make that investment and I think it's worth every darn penny, because that's you guys know this. You talk about it all the time. That's the Burbank experience. You call City Hall. Someone answers you call Police and Fire. Someone answers If you don't invest in your workforce, you're going to quickly turn into LA.
Speaker 3:I just got to throw it. I called the city department today. The person that answered the call said can I put you on hold? Briefly, 23 minutes later I decided to hang up and email the person that I wanted to get a hold of and they replied to me within a minute. You know so that 23 minutes. So when you say that some departments I won't say which department it was, they probably know you know but I'll tell you today's experience. You know you could do other things when you're waiting on hold now, but it was just funny how you just said that.
Speaker 4:Well.
Speaker 2:I think, we're offline.
Speaker 4:You let me know.
Speaker 2:I think we're in good shape. I think, you know that's what makes Burbank Burbank, as I always say, you know, it's a small town in the big city, you know, and it's always had that feel and it continues to have that feel. You know, I just I feel safe in this city and I, I feel safe in this city and I just don't have that same feeling when I travel into North Hollywood, glendale. I just don't have that same feeling. I really don't. So just me, of course, but I'm a home guy, you know.
Speaker 3:You know, I'm the same way. I don't go out of town much, I don't go out of Burbank much, and when you do, when I do, you look around Not as nice, and when you do, when I do, you look around Not as nice. And I'll tell you, I'm real glad when I'm back. You see the graffiti.
Speaker 2:You see the encampments. It's not pretty, yep, okay. Well, now we go to our final segment of the night and, once again, thank you so much for taking it. I know you are amazingly busy and we do this through Zoom for us.
Speaker 3:I think we were going to throw to him. Yeah, we are.
Speaker 2:Once again, thank you for his time and everything. Hopefully we'll get you back in the studio for June's show. You will, but we always like to end the show with what's on the mayor's mind, so we give you the floor to whatever you want to say. It's all yours.
Speaker 4:Well, thank you guys so much. I really appreciate the opportunity and I appreciate the flexibility tonight. I'm just going to highlight one thing, two things, I apologize. So our next meeting is June 4th and that's when we're actually going to be doing a final review and adopting our city budget. So if you're a person who's listening to this and you want to take the weekend to study the proposed budget, you still have time to comment on it by Tuesday night, but that's when we approve it.
Speaker 4:For the July 1st the start of the fiscal year that's probably the first thing I'd point out. For the July 1st, the start of the fiscal year that's probably the first thing I'd point out. The other thing I would say is that rent stabilization tenant protections, as you both know, has been a hot topic on the council for about a year and a half now. One of the things we talked about in the last meeting shy of a rent cap, which is sort of the separate conversation where we're gonna be doing community outreach and doing more discussion. We also have this tenant protection ordinance which covers when you can evict someone in Burbank, how much relocation assistance you need to provide. There was a lot of discussion at a recent council meeting about taking another look at all the other categories of eviction and whether there should be more relocation assistance.
Speaker 4:My understanding is that's going to come back to council in mid-July. So the second week of July after the holiday there's going to be a report to council, there'll be some discussion about what tweaks, if any, we want to make, and then the end of July, so that last Tuesday is when it's tentatively slated to be adopted. So I just bring that up to say that, whatever side of the issue you're on, if that's something that you care about, that you're interested in, be on the lookout. July, early July. You are definitely going to see staff coming forward with a discussion paper and possibly some recommendations on how we would potentially tweak our own local ordinance. And I encourage you to reach out. You know, talk to your council members, talk to staff, share your opinions on social media, engage with my Burbank, but we definitely want to hear from you. We want that input.
Speaker 2:I think that Ross and I have talked about it many times the rent, the landlord, the tenant there's no, you know there's no good side to this. Everybody's got legitimate concerns on both sides. I understand the landlords A new roof costs money, air conditioning, it all costs money but I also understand the tenants who can't keep raising their rent because they can't afford it. And where is the middle? I've seen Ross go through some really tenuous times and had no protections, and I've seen both sides of this. I think the council really is going to have a. You know there's no doubt that this is a big year. You have the guns, you have the tenants you have. You know there's a lot going on this year. In fact, in the four years you've been on council, I think we have a lot of landmark decisions that you've been associated with which you know give you a lot of credit for that.
Speaker 4:Well, I thank you guys. It's definitely a team effort, though you know we've had great colleagues on council staff's worked really hard, and you know I guess my final word if you would, greg is look, I know that I won't be returning to council next year. There'll be someone new in my position in December, but honestly, I'm not saying we shouldn't do the outreach, but what I want the community to know is I'm very cognizant of the fact that I have, from now through the end of November, to accomplish a lot, and so I really am laser focused on not cutting corners but working efficiently and trying to get as much good work done and at least leave the city in a better position where I can hand it off to whoever my successor will be, whoever they are, and hopefully the next council can continue really good work and hopefully I'll be in a position to remain helpful to the city we all call home.
Speaker 3:Well, you know, I will say Craig will echo probably what I'm going to say we have a great E-team, which is executive staff from our financial, our police chief, our fire chief, Ken Berkman, all the departments, but they're all led by a guy by the name of Justin Hess and Courtney Padgett and they are responsive to us. They do a fantastic job.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 3:I will tell you they got this. They're on it.
Speaker 2:You have two employees and those those employees are doing a heck of a job.
Speaker 4:Well, thank you all, and and and. I'll just say look at the end of the day, they do a great job because they've had a solid council that has directed them and guided them, and that's because voters have made, in my opinion, really good choices. The voters have sent really quality people to serve on the council. Not that you agree with us all the time on everything, but I really think this is an incredible council. It's a great group of people, and I just hope that the voters get it right again in November, and I'm confident that they will. I really believe they will.
Speaker 2:And it's okay to disagree. It's okay to have conversation and respect what everybody says and listen to what people say and not just tune them out. So I think that's a good process.
Speaker 3:That's right, Well you know it's probably past your bedtime, or at least room service will end in a few minutes up there in Sacramento. And how's the weather? Uh, you know we had a reporter move up there. She just uh text me yesterday. Devin horrenda is up towards sacramento.
Speaker 2:She did, she moved up to sacramento. She's on the abc station in redding.
Speaker 3:Yeah, wow good for her, and she does. She still follows us and, and you know, listens to the shows.
Speaker 4:Well, that's wonderful. Well, Ross, to your question, it's warm. Summer is definitely around the corner. It's getting humid, just like it is. Well, we still have a little May gray and probably June gloom to deal with, but it's going to warm up for all of us real quickly here, so I hope we all enjoy the overcast while it lasts.
Speaker 3:Okay, I agree. Thanks again, and you know great show.
Speaker 2:Mayor Nick Schultz, ross Benson. This is Craig Sherwood saying thank you for listening. We'll be back to you in June. Send us those questions and we will get back to you and get you get you the answers you want. Thank you very much. Goodbye.
Speaker 1:My Burbank Talks would like to thank all of my Burbank's advertisers for their continued support Burbank Water Power, cusimano Real Estate Group, umi Credit Union, burbank Chamber of Commerce, game Credit Union, providence, st Joseph Medical Center, community, chevrolet, media City Credit Union, ucla Health, tequila's, burbank, logix Credit Union, hill Street Cafe, pertain, escobar Wealth Management and the UPS Store on 3rd Street.